Smooth sailing for disabled mariners

Access Dinghies has designed an unsinkable yacht.
Picture: Andrew De La Rue

A unique sailing competition for the disabled gets under way at Blairgowrie today. And it could be the precursor to export opportunities.

Chris Mitchell's company Access Dinghies, based in Dandenong, is supplying all the craft to be used in the competition because his craft are uniquely designed for the disabled.

Already boat builders in France and Britain have bought the rights to the designs of the fibreglass dinghies made by Access Dinghies, and other boat builders from around the world are expressing interest in this Australian innovation.

Mr Mitchell has designed a yacht that is unsinkable and untippable. The severely disabled can control the boat purely through movement from their chins or mouths.

Competing in the solo world championship event hosted by the International Foundation of Disabled Sailing at Blairgowrie is Andrew Hartley from Adelaide, who broke his neck 20 years ago playing rugby.

Mr Hartley, a quadriplegic, relies on a ventilator to breathe, but is still able to steer the boat and adjust the sail length using his chin. He is only the second ventilator-dependent quadriplegic in Australia to sail solo

Already, Mr Mitchell generates about 60 per cent of his turnover exporting the parts and his designs overseas. He hopes to build his profile if his yacht design is chosen for future Paralympics events.

"We are the pioneers in creating a boat which can be used by everyone, from kids to grandparents to people suffering from any form of disability," Mr Mitchell said.

"We are the world leaders. We're busy developing new designs and our aim is to provide accessible sailing for everyone."

Last year Mr Mitchell's company won the Prime Minister's National Community Partnership Award and a $10,000 grant to develop his fibreglass craft and expand his company's sales.